Worcestershire EfW incinerator approved

Plans for a £120m waste incinerator in Hartlebury, Worcestershire have been backed by the Government.

The decision by Eric Pickles, the Communities and Local Government secretary, follows a public inquiry which began in November 2011.

The 15.5MW, 200,000 tonne capacity, residual waste EfW facility was originally approved by Worcestershire County Council in March 2011, but opposed by local campaigners.

John Plant, director of developer Mercia EnviRecover, said: “The public inquiry was an important step for a facility that is critical for the environmentally sustainable management of waste for the Councils. We are delighted that the Secretary of State has reviewed the evidence and found in our favour.

He added: “It endorses our belief that EnviRecover is an appropriate, robust and sustainable waste management solution that brings added benefits through generating renewable energy, and stimulating the local economy.”

The plant is funded through a 25-year PFI deal with the council.

Anthony Blagg, cabinet member for environment and waste, told the BBC the incinerator would benefit the area. He said: “Sitting back and doing nothing simply was not an option because of the environmental and financial impact it would have had.

“We understand that some of the community in and around Hartlebury have concerns and work will continue to address any they may have.”

The local MP, Peter Luff, said it was a “sad day for the people of the area” who had lost their “brave fight” against the development.

That was 2018 – the year when China’s ban on most waste material imports really showed how decisions in one country can affect those on the other side of the world, as the UK and others scrambled to find alternative capacity.

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